What happened to the Christmas spirit?
Sometimes words just fail me. I had no intention of blogging on Christmas day but the reaction of some affiliates today has really wound me up.
Over the last few weeks Affiliate Window have been running a promotion whereby they have given affiliates the opportunity to collect up to a maximum of 8 virtual gold coins on their website to redeem for a prize on Christmas day from 3pm onwards. The idea was that from 3pm if you had collected 8 gold coins then you could get a top level prize, or 1 gold coin could get you a smaller prize. Full details are here.
Personally I thought this was a great idea, lots of fun and very generous. I mean who wouldn’t like the idea of getting something for free from a network? Yet for some bizarre reason you get people like this who moan about having to “jump through hoops”. I mean come on! Affiliate Window and their merchants are giving us the opportunity to win prizes and you bloody well moan because it isn’t convenient for you? Poor you, if you don’t like it then don’t participate and let somebody else, who isn’t so ungrateful.
And then there’s the guy on the A4U Forum who on this thread said the following…
“despite having 8 coins that i could only pick from 5 coins, so ended up with champagne that will be going straight in the bin…i don’t drink p**s!”
Were you brought up with no manners? I don’t know about you but I was always taught to be grateful when you receive a gift, even if the gift isn’t to your taste its the thought that counts, right? Apparently not, in the case of the guy above, who gets offered a bottle of champagne for free and then complains and says he is going to bin it?! Words almost fail me, how rude, arrogant, and ungrateful can you be?
I really am ashamed that some of my fellow affiliates are acting so spoilt just because Affiliate Window didn’t dish out their Christmas presents in a way that was convenient to them. Or that the present wasn’t quite what they wanted to receive. What a shame.
If I were in Affiliate Window’s shoes I would be really saddened that such a generous gesture has been received in such a poor manner by some people and I probably wouldn’t want to give out any presents at all next year.
So on behalf of most affiliates I’d like to thank Affiliate Window for running what I think is a fun and generous promotion. And well done to the affiliates who scored big and won LCD TV’s, mountain bikes, iPods and Tom Toms. We really do appreciate it guys, thankyou and Merry Christmas!
What I’m listening to right now: Various - “Now That’s What I Call Christmas”
Wednesday, December 26th, 2007 at 12:09 am and is filed under Affiliate Networks, Competitions. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Welcome to my blog. My name is Kieron Donoghue and I run UK Offer Media Ltd. I thought it would be fun to post a daily (well hopefully daily) blog, writing about my experiences in Internet Marketing and more specifically Affiliate Marketing. I'll include some personal stuff too, probably about my other passions, music and cars. Please feel free to post your comments and thoughts too.
December 26th, 2007 at 1:07 am
I thought it was just me who felt this way, I was fortunate to receive some freebies this xmas and was grateful for each one. I do not see a problem with AW promo, in fact i feel it is mighty generous - we allready make cash from the affiliate programs so anything else is a pure bonus. I think it is sad that people are so ungrateful, next year they might not be so generous. And like Kieron says if you don’t like it leave the gifts for someone that will appreciate it. That’s my rant over, merry christmas everyone and please try and enjoy the rest of your day, keep it festive people
December 26th, 2007 at 1:13 am
My idea of Christmas spirit is spending time with family and loved ones. In a job which can often mean irregular or anti social hours, it might be a time to actually just switch off and relax.
I think it was a great gesture from Affiliate Window. I would have preferred it to be run at a time when it was more accessible to more affiliates who have worked hard with/for AW, including those ones with a family. It wasn’t. C’est la vie.
So actually, your question, “What happened to the Christmas spirit?” sums up my sentiments exactly but I guess we just get very different answers.
Merry Christmas.
How’s your link building going? As I mentioned in another post, I’m not a huge fan of those impersonal, template emails you send out but do they work?
December 26th, 2007 at 1:18 am
Rob - I don’t send out any emails requesting recipricol links. I employ an SEO company who do so on my behalf. And yes they do work. However like you, I’m not a fan of them and never respond to any of the hundreds I receive either.
December 26th, 2007 at 2:42 am
Sorry Kieron I don’t know why you bother participating in forums, they’re full of ungrateful people like that.
I don’t bother, it brings me down!
December 26th, 2007 at 11:32 am
I was one of the lucky LCD TV winners! I was totally gobsmacked (and then mugged by my kids who want their TV upgraded!) and it certainly made me feel quite chuffed yesterday afternoon.
But like you, I was amazed how rude some comments were. The champagne one took the prize, but there were plenty of others that were along the same lines.
It was a free bit of fun that will get people nattering, and a nice reward to affiliates. Good on AW.
And good on Novatech for my new TV
December 26th, 2007 at 11:37 am
Well I got a usb panic button with 1 coin..
Not sure of the value of that, next time I’ll get more coins.
Mally
December 26th, 2007 at 11:43 am
Well, I was certainly thrilled to be one of the lucky Ipod winners.. but I’d have been happy with any of the prizes they were giving away. I thought it was absolutely brilliant fun and added a bit of excitement to a time on Christmas day where I’m usually getting a bit bored anyhow.
If people don’t like it, why not use the prizes as a giveaway to build links or newsletter subscribers? That’s what I’d do.
Well done Awin!!
December 26th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
Thank Kieron!!! The post wasn’t to be taken literally, you seem to have missed out the smiley faces i included, not to mention the just joking post!!! I think AW’s competition was a outstanding success and well done to all that got involved, especially those that managed to grab the top prizes.
December 26th, 2007 at 4:28 pm
I think the affiliate window competition was a great idea and congratulations go out to all those that won prizes. Happy Christmas all
December 26th, 2007 at 8:00 pm
Well said. AW ran a great contest, with which I won a choccy hamper. It cost me zilch, put a smile on my face and will probably taste good too. Well done
December 26th, 2007 at 10:27 pm
Huzzah Kieron!
I’ve been reading other affiliates’ sites and blogs and all they seem to be discussing is the quality of gifts received or the fact that no gifts were sent from merchants. There is even one where they actually have the b*lls to complain that the merchant gave the money to charity, instead of sending out affiliate gifts.
December 27th, 2007 at 6:56 am
I was one of the iPod winners. I had to leave my Christmas dinner midway through as I could hear the Queen’s speach ending from the dining room. I’d already warned my parents in advance though, so they were encouraging me to win a tv.
That’s not half the story though, I specifically got broadband installed at my parents in time for Christmas, just for this competition! I’d have been devastated if I’d have had to use dialup.
My investment paid off
December 27th, 2007 at 1:57 pm
I actually thought this was a naff idea, at first. But now I know the top prize wasa LCD TV I’m amazed at what a great idea it actually was - just shows what little I know. I should have known better really as AW are probably the best network at the moment.
December 27th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
I read the posts on the A4u forum about the AW promo and, like you Kieron, was dismayed by the whinging, negative attitude of a number of my fellow affiliates.
I’d like to add my vote of thanks to AW for a great promo with great prizes.
December 27th, 2007 at 4:55 pm
Hi everyone
Just wanted to say a big thank you for the positive feedback - and the blog post, Kieron.
We were very grateful to our merchants for the prizes provided and hope we spread some Christmas cheer on the big day - even it did mean dragging you away from your turkey…
Watch this space to see what we come up with for Christmas 2008!
Cheers
Julia
December 27th, 2007 at 5:59 pm
I was a wee bit negative about my prize because I didn’t understand how to read a binary clock. On the whole though, it was a great competition and Affiliate Window and the merchants involved are to be congratulated for their generosity and the effort this must have taken to organise.
December 27th, 2007 at 6:42 pm
I agree but would go further. What right do affiliate have to expect presents from business partners, especially if they dont send them. Its not an easy job being an affiliate manager and it seems many affiliates dont think to send them anything.
December 27th, 2007 at 7:19 pm
I logged in just after 3:00pm with the only means I had available to me, my HP Smartphone. I was gutted to find the JavaScript options they used for the Christmas tree didn’t work on my phone, so I couldn’t pick a gift.
I’d have been delighted with Champagne. I don’t drink it either, but I know some people who do and they’d have loved a tipple.
Guess I’ll need to invest in a laptop this year so I’m not so isolated at times like this. I even tried adding an affiliate link to one of my sites that day and that messed up. Phones are cool, but they’re no use for Affiliates to work on!
December 28th, 2007 at 3:30 am
[...] Would you believe it but they were actually giving away LCD TVs and iPods? What’s more, it appears that some people were even complaining about the gifts. [...]
December 28th, 2007 at 3:58 pm
I think the Christmas Spirit was out in abundance and it’s important that the success and generosity of the promo isn’t lost or tarnished by the minority.
Ok there were a few grumpy so and sos but the vast majority who took part in the promo and signed in around 3pm were more than happy (judging by the posts on the same thread).
Me? I told Jude at 3pm ish that I was off to go and win a SatNav… by 3.10pm I’d won a SatNav - so was well impressed with that (as well as the power of positive thought!)
Jason
January 1st, 2008 at 10:27 am
You’re right Kieron. I got a real Ale Hamper but I don’t like beer (only lager!) and I didn’t complain once. I thought it was brilliant to get something for nothing and immediately thought who I could give the hamper to in my family. There were three people fighting for it in our house on Christmas day!